Scottish choreographer Janice Parker to work with the HQPC collective

The Scottish choreographer Janice Parker will rehearse from 17 to 21 June with HQPC, a dance and theatre collective slated to take part in the Scotland Goes Basque project. HQPC wants to put a new twist to its show “Habrá Que Ponerse Cachas” and this week Janice Parker is here them to help with the project. Parker has extensive experience in creating artistic dance performances and her objective is to extend the essence of the work to new contexts.

The Scottish choreographer Janice Parker will rehearse from 17 to 21 June with HQPC, a dance and theatre collective slated to take part in the Scotland Goes Basque project. HQPC wants to put a new twist to its show “Habrá Que Ponerse Cachas” and this week Janice Parker is here them to help with the project. Parker has extensive experience in creating artistic dance performances and her objective is to extend the essence of the work to new contexts.

Directed by Maylis Arrabit, the show is a fusion of dance and theatre, the simple stage design and the body movements of dancers Ebi Soria and Xabier Madina, the protagonists. Arrabit’s source of inspiration was a Bob Dylan song. In 30 minutes the show tells in the story of the movie in which the song appears.

The group wants to highlight inclusive dance, while looking beyond the wheelchair of one of the dancers. The project is inclusive because of the way in which they work together. “In this project, inclusiveness is not whether one of the actors is in a wheelchair or not. It’s in the way we’ve had to work together. Everyone has contributed their own ideas and respected each other’s ideas, leaving room for individual creativity,” said Maylis Arrabit. According to Xabier Madina, his goal is not to prove anything to anyone because of his disability. He wants to have fun and be able to work on something he enjoys. Janice Parker believes in showing different body types in dance. Beyond the figure of a tall young body, dance needs to show bodies with disabilities, adult bodies and different types of figures.

After presenting the work in several countries including Spain, Germany or Greece, the group will be at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. This week Janice Parker is helping the group to create a more concise version of their work. “I’m very pleased with the process we’re carrying out. The dancers are very focused and excited about the idea of moving to another context and creating a different version of the work,” said Parker. “We’re trying to transform a show that is already done, taking the origin and the main idea to extend it to a new context.” The work is especially interesting for Maylis Arrabit because, as she says, a person who has been out of the process offers another new point of view and makes it possible to make the show more concise and specific. According to Parker, “the process is collaboration. We are creating the piece together”.

Participating in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is an opportunity for the group. But they admit that it is also a challenge. “Edinburgh is a showcase,” said dancer Ebi Soria. “I am very curious to see what new opportunities may arise after this.” Maylis Arrabit says that her goal is not to sell the show but to meet other groups and take advantage of the opportunity for collaboration. Janice Parker also believes that the most important thing is to create new relationships, meet people and encourage cultural exchange.

This activity is part of the Scotland Goes Basque project organized by the Etxepare Basque Institute. A range of cultural events are being held throughout the year to promote Basque culture in Scotland and the links between Basque and Scottish culture. Among other activities, the HQPC collective will participate in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe along with other dancers such as Tio Teronen Semeak, Krego-Martín and Akira Yoshida.